The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-03

that she should retain her disurustruI attl
tslde or he his reserve in their enforced COM
panionship They talked freely of subjects
suggested by the situation, Falkner exhibit
ing a general knowledge and intuition of
things without parade or dogmatism. Doubt
ful of all versatility as Kate was, she Gould
not help admitting to herself that his truths
were none the less true for their quantity or
that he got at them without ostentatious
processes. His talk certainly was more pic
turesque than her brothers and less subdu-
ing to her faculties. John had always crushed
her
When they returned to the house he did
not liEger in the parlor or sitting room, but
at once rejoined his friend. When dinner
was ready in the dining room, a little more
deliberately arranged and ornamented thar
usual, the two women were somewhat sur
prlsed to receive an excuse from Falkner,
begging them to allow him for the present to
take his meals with the patient and thus save
the necessity of another attendant.
"It is all shyness, Kate" said Mrs Hale.
confidently, "and must not be permitted foi
a moment"
"rm sure should be quite willing to stay
with the poor boy myself" said Mrs. Scott,
simply, "and take Mr.. Falzner's place while
he dimes"
"You are too willing, mother" said Mrs
Hale pertly, "and your poor boy as you call
him, will never see So again"
"He viii never see any other birthday" re-
torted her mother, unless you keep him
more quiet. He only talks when you're in
the room"
"He wants some relief to his friends long
face and mustaches that make him look
prenaturely in mourning" said Mrs. Hale,
with slight increase of animation. II don't
propose to leave them too much together
After dinner we'll adjourn to their room and
tighten it up little. You must come, Kate,
to look at the patient and counteract the bale
full effects of my frivolity."
Mrs. Hale's instincts were truer than her
mothers experience; not only that the
wounded mans eyes became brighter under
the provocation of her presence, but it Was
evident that his naturally exGbcrSilt spirits
were part of his vital strength, and were
absolutely essential to his quick recovery.
Encouraged by Falkner's grave and practical
| assistance, which she could not ignore, Kate
ventured to make an examination of Lees
wound. Even to her Impractical eye it was
less serious than at first appeared. The great
loss of blood had been due to the laceration
| of certain small vessels below the kr ee, but
neither artery nor bone was injured. A re-
currence OF the hemorrhage OF fever was the
only thing to be feared, and these could be
averted by bandaging, repose and simple
nursing.
The unfailing good humor of the patient
under this manipulation, the quaint origin
ality OF his speech, the freedom of his fancy,
which was, however, always controlled by a
| certain instructive tact, began to affect Kate
nearly as it had the others. She found her
self laughing over the work she had under
taken in a pure sense of duty; she Joined in
the hilarity produced by Lees affected terror
of her surgical mania, and offered to undo
the bandages in search of the thimble he de-
clared she had left in the wound with view
to further experiments.
"You ought to broaden your practice" he
suggested. "a good deal might be made out
of Ned and piece of soap left carelessly on
the first step of the staircase, while noun
tains of surgical opportunities lie in hum
bic orange peel judiciously exposed Only